The federal government on Monday designated Canada-based Arshdeep Singh Gill a terrorist because of his links to the Haristani movement and terrorist acts.
Gill is a designated terrorist under the Unlawful Practices (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The law was amended in 2019 to allow the federal government to also designate individuals as terrorists.
According to a notice issued by the Federal Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Gil is closely related to Haristan Tiger Force (KTF) chief Hadeep Singh Nijar and has a reward of Rs. Nijjar was declared a terrorist in 2020.
Here’s everything you need to know about Arshdeep Singh Gill, his ties to the Haristan movement, and what the government’s actions mean.
Who is Ashdeep Singh Gil?
Arshdeep Singh Gill was born in Punjab but later went to Canada. He is now designated a terrorist under the UAPA Act.
Arshdeep, also known as Arsh Dala, was born on May 21, 1996 in Jagraon village, Ludhiana, Punjab.
Arshdeep is currently based in Canada and has partnered with Khalistan Tiger Force Chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
“Currently based in Canada, [Arshdeep] Associated with the Haristan Tiger Force (KTF)… Arshdeep Singh Gill @ Arsh Dala, who is very close to Hardeep Singh Nijjar, is a designated terrorist under the same act and carries out terrorism modules on his behalf. We do,” the MHA notice said.
The MHA says Arshdeep is involved in targeted killings, terrorist financing and cross-border smuggling.
“Aside from terrorist activities, Arshdeep Singh Gill @ Arsh Dala is involved in heinous crimes such as murder, extortion and targeted killings…Arshdeep Singh Gill @ Arsh Dala is involved in terrorist financing, drug are involved in large-scale cross-border smuggling of weapons and weapons,” the MHA notice said.
The MHA also said it is under investigation by the National Investigative Agency (NIA).
“Arshdeep Singh Gill @ Arsh Dala has committed a series of targeted killings, extortion of money to finance terrorism, attempted murder, disruption of communal harmony and creation of terrorism among the people in Punjab, India. He has been accused in various cases registered and investigated by the National Bureau of Investigation,” the MHA notice said.
What is the Khalistan Tiger Force and what is the Hardeep Singh Nijjar?
According to the MHA, Arshdeep Singh Gill belongs to the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) and is handling the terrorism module on behalf of its chief, Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Both KTF and Nijjar are based in Canada.
Nijjar was declared a terrorist in 2020 along with eight others, all of whom were involved in the Kharistan movement.
The Kharistan movement seeks to separate Sikh countries from India, including the Sikh-majority state of Punjab. According to the followers of the Haristan movement, this country will be called Haristan. After decades of bloody rebellion in the Punjab, the Kharistan movement finally faded in the 1990s. Canada is now a major hub for Haristani organizations and supporters.
“These individuals are involved in various acts of terrorism across borders and from foreign lands. has been relentlessly engaged in nefarious efforts to destabilize the ‘involvement in the Kharistan movement,'” the MHA said in 2020 when it designated Nijjar, along with others, as a terrorist.
Nijjar was also recently involved in organizing the Haristan Referendum in Brampton, Canada. He is also chief of Sikh gurdwara in Surrey, Canada.
“Pro-Kalistan leader Hadeep Singh Nijar, who is wanted for various terrorist incidents in India, has unanimously endorsed the Guru Nanak Sheikh Gurdwara Steering Committee, Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. … Nijar has been linked to the separatist organization Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), which is banned in India,” the Hindustan Times reported in October.
The KTF and Nijjar have been charged with plotting to kill a Hindu priest in Jalandhar, Punjab.
“Nijar is wanted by the NIA in a conspiracy hatched by the KTF to murder a Hindu priest in Jalandhar. Chief of ,’ said the NIA when declaring a reward of 100,000 rupees in Nijar.
Harrison Movement in Canada
Canada has emerged as a hub of Haristani sympathizers in recent years, as Canadian leaders have indulged them.
On 23 June 1985, Air India Flight 182 took off from Toronto, Canada, bound for Mumbai via London. It exploded in the air, killing all 329 people on board. However, he was the only person to be convicted of bombing in Canada, and that was decades after the bombing.
The mastermind, Talwinder Singh Palmer, was never convicted, and Canada’s leading leaders long indulged in him. After years of participating in events promoting Kalistani’s ideas, it wasn’t until 2018 that Jagmeet Singh admitted that Palmer was responsible for the Emperor Kanishka bombing. Jagmeet is the leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP).
At one point, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s influential leader and coalition partner Jagmeet said he had “no qualms” about attending future rallies where people like Bindranware, who created the Haristan movement, would be honored. No,” he reportedly said. Citing Hindustan Times, CBC News, 2018.
The Hindustan Times also said: Founder Talwinder Singh Palmer was the man behind the terrorists who bombed Air India Flight 182 in 1985. ”
The Government of India has taken up the issue with the Government of Canada.
Foreign Minister S Jaishankar said in October that New Delhi was flagging issues related to Haristani separatist forces operating from Canada to Ottawa, arguing that freedom in democratic societies could actually lead to violence. He stressed the need to ensure that it is not abused by forces that advocate prejudice.
The federal government, led by Narendra Modi, in October urged the Justin Trudeau government to launch a so-called Haristan referendum to challenge India’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, organized by an organization banned in Ontario on November 6. marked the boundaries that demanded the cessation of
In October, Jaishankar said, “We engage with the Canadian government from time to time, and I myself engage with them on this[Haristani]issue. really by forces that advocate violence and bigotry, so that we really understand how democracy should work, not only at home, but against other democracies abroad. I think that’s important.”
(with PTI input)